Sioux music facts for kids

The Sioux are a big group of Native American people. They are often split into three main parts: the Lakota, the Dakota, and the Nakota. This article focuses on the music of the Dakota people.

Dakota Music: How Songs Are Made

Dakota dance songs often start with a high sound, called a pitch. One singer begins with a short musical idea, or phrase. Then, a group of singers repeats this phrase. The sound slowly goes lower until there is a short break.

After the break, the second part of the song begins. This part sounds a lot like the first part. It often includes special "honor beats." These are usually four strong beats. They can sound like cannon fire from a battle. The lead singer decides how many times the whole song is sung.

Words and Sounds in Songs

Many songs use only special sounds called vocables. These are syllables that do not have a regular meaning, like words do. Sometimes, only the second half of a song has actual lyrics (words).

Women's Roles in Singing

In some traditional songs, women sing one octave higher than the men. This means their voices are higher pitched. However, women do not sing the very first part of a new song. They also do not sing the lead line at any time.

Drums and Rhythm

Percussion instruments are very important in Dakota music. Drummers use drums to keep the beat. Sometimes, the drumming uses syncopation, which means the rhythm has unexpected accents. In songs for competitions, the beats start with a quick, uneven sound. Then, they change to a fast, steady beat.

Types of Dakota Songs

The Dakota Flag Song is a very important song. It starts special events, like powwows. People do not dance to the Flag Song. Other songs are sung to honor veterans, brave warriors, or other important people.

Other Traditional Songs

Besides powwow songs, the Dakota people have many other types of traditional songs. These include songs for the Sun dance, Yuwipi ceremonies, and Inipi (sweat lodge) ceremonies. There are also songs for courtship (when people are looking for a partner), flute songs, and lullabys for babies. Some songs are called peyote songs, and there are also Christian hymns.